Posts Tagged "flooding"

In the aftermath of recent flooding, the city of St. Louis has labored to protect vital infrastructure from the damages that the flooding has created. This includes wastewater treatment plants, highway bridges, embankments and more. St. Louis has collected necessary information on water flow data and level to be entered into the National Water Information System. This essential tool is specifically for monitoring heavy storms that can potentially cause damages, as well as to forecast floods and droughts in real time. Some communities in Missouri continue to battle rising floodwaters, while others are beginning their recovery efforts. As water levels begin to recede on some smaller rivers, residents are encouraged to use caution near flood water as contaminants can pose a health risk. It is estimated that nearly 200 homes have been impacted by the floods, with many more at risk of exposure to the flood-like conditions.

Interesting fact: did you know that residential waste stabilization lagoons are commonly used for onsite sewage treatment? The lagoons are used when the soils are unsuitable for the traditional gravity flow drain field systems. A lagoon consists of an artificial pool for the treatment of sewage, or to accommodate surface water that overflows the storm drains during heavy rain. Interestingly, a septic tank is the most common onsite sewage treatment system for cities throughout Missouri. However, a connection to the city’s sewer system is the most reliable means of sewage disposal.

St. Louis, you’re invited!! Perma-Liner Industries requests your attendance at our Open House in Anaheim, CA. It’s taking place for three days from June 13th –June 15th and we want to see you there! It’ll be chock-full of live demonstrations and information on all of the CIPP technology available. Don’t miss this! Call us to confirm your reservation @ 1-866-336-2568

The city of St. Louis has many homes that are set on top of hilly landscape and far off driveways, that lead the way to a somewhat hidden home. Several properties are woody, with shrubs and trees lining the entrances. Some of the landscape that is planted is pivotal in avoiding the issues that infiltration of storm water can cause. Residents have also taken to natural preventatives such as rain gardens, creating a proactive barrier to absorb rainwater. Landscaping, trees, shrubs are known to lessen the negative effects of wet weather events into the sewer systems as well as add aesthetic value to properties. Excessive stormwater can worsen flooding, as well as cause a rise to the sea level, promoting shoreline erosion and damage to affected neighborhoods.

The city has implemented a measure to counteract such damages by building a large rain garden in north St. Louis. Last year the city experienced major flooding which created a massive sewer overflow of about 200 million gallons. This was one of the largest nationwide- within a timeframe of over two years, leaving many residents and businesses to regain and rebuild. The widespread flooding was worst along the Meramec River in the southern part of the St. Louis region. An estimate of 7,000 structures were damaged. The city has since been inventive in its approach; putting in place strategies to better protect treatment plants from major floods. A levee built to withstand a 500-year flood was not enough to prevent a ruinous situation.

Interestingly, a rain garden can help prevent low levels of flooding. Most storms that come through St. Louis typically deliver a little over an inch of rain over the course of 24 hours. A garden full of native perennial plants could potentially capture the first inch of rainfall. Generally, the cost to build a rain garden can range from ten to fifteen dollars per square foot. Specific areas of the city are offering a grant program to encourage homeowners, businesses, and organizations in their rainscaping endeavors.

Peaceful Valley Lake is a residential Missouri neighborhood known for being a quiet getaway for tourists and an agreeable location to reside. Along with the calm nature of the town, the lake community is aiming to bring down ammonia levels discharged from the community’s lagoon. The completion for this task could take up to a year and a half. Property owners have been working to resolve lagoon discharge issues over the recent years. The city is currently reviewing potential strategies to fund the needed updates, as well as, working to map the lines and identify problems through smoke testing. The process for testing the sewer lines includes setting up a gas powered blower over manholes, blowing smoke into the branch (line) and determining whether there is smoke coming out of the ground. Nearly 100 manholes and 36,000 feet of sewer mains have been located. Additionally, volunteers will be doing some brush clearing in the next few weeks in an effort to find the remaining lines.

After rain events of two-plus-inches in area neighborhoods within the St. Louis region, manholes are being opened in order for flow observations. Given the size of the system, the work to uncover faulty areas of the pipeline is expected to take several weeks. This month workers cleaned out the sewer pipes removing roots and debris in preparation for sealing the older pipes with Cured-in-Place Pipeline. The main goal is to keep wet weather events from inundating the sewer system, causing overflows and sewage backups. Taking the necessary preventative measures in advance can curb the likelihood of flooding and damage to residences, including but not limited to, back up issues in a homeowner’s basement. The utility has been inspecting its sanitary sewer pipes with a camera and also checking lateral lines that run from the main to individual homes.

Coming soon: Perma-Liner Industries is busy making plans for you. We’re planning a “Trenchless Tour” on July 27th in the New England area. We’ll be posting more information on this spectacular event…stay tuned!

Recent flooding has been an ongoing concern for residents of St. Louis and surrounding areas.Heavy rains have caused many properties to experience damages in the form of landslides, erosion and sewer backups.Additionally, just a few months ago, the rain set a record as the highest level, to date.With extensive rain persisting, if you happen to have a well, it can become a compounding problem.If your well has been flooded, the well and entire water system should be cleaned and disinfected. Floods can contaminate wells with silt, raw sewage, oil and disease organisms. There are a few first steps you’ll want to consider. Start by removing silt and debris from the well and examine the casing, motors and pumps, piping, electrical and other system components for damage. Consult a serviceman if damage is extreme or if you are unable to make repairs. To disinfect a well start by pumping the water until it is clear. Scrub and disinfect the pump room and wash all equipment with at least a 2 percent chlorine solution.Remove the well seal or plug at the top of the casing. Pour a solution of one quart of laundry bleach and 3 gallons of water into the top of the casing. Leave it there at least four hours, preferably overnight.

St. Louis, are you looking for an environmentally sound way to volunteer? How about the Great Rivers Greenway? The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, and Missouri American Water are hosting the 8th annual Confluence Trash Bash, being held on Saturday, March 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Area residents are invited to join cleanup efforts, helping to improve the condition of local waterways. To date, volunteers have removed more than 5,400 tires and about 100 tons of trash from area streams and rivers. Prizes will be awarded to volunteers who find the weirdest, biggest, and most expensive trash that morning.

St. Louis has sustained historic flooding from the Meramec River, a relatively small Mississippi tributary that bombarded communities in the far southwestern reaches of the St. Louis suburbs during the week. Two wastewater treatment plants were so damaged by the floodwaters that raw sewage spewed into the river. Hundreds of people were evacuated in the Missouri communities of Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park and Arnold, where many homes took in water. Two-dozen homes in Cape Girardeau also sustained damage from flooding conditions. Catastrophic damage has been a result in several nearby areas. Evacuations were required in the areas most threatened, as conditions were expected to persist, calling for a State of emergency.

In addition, road closures abounded. Traffic was rerouted to allow for sandbagging and pumping, including a 24 mile stretch of Interstate 44. The Mississippi River, which runs beside the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis, was also expected to reach nearly 13 feet above flood stage, which would be considered the second-worst flood on record, behind only the devastating 1993 flood.Although a flood wall protects the city, firefighters and emergency road crews worked to pump out water from flooded storm drains behind a 7-foot-high, 1,000-foot-long temporary retaining wall reinforced by gravel and sandbags. Spring River, which was among the waterways to overflow, was also under advisement.

Currently, conditions call for a massive cleanup and the State of emergency has been lifted, interstates are also slowly returning to normal. The St. Louis region is now struggling with the most extensive flooding seen in more than 20 years.Perma-liner Industries is here for you! Call us or go online so we can offer you our best products and services during the aftermath and cleanup period of this devastating flood. 1-866-336-2568/ www.perma-liner.com